Australian Baseball League

BRISBANE - James Schult struck out 10 Aces batters in his start, Ryan Battaglia and Andrew Campbell each homered, and the Brisbane Bandits claimed a four-game series victory over the Jet Couriers Melbourne Aces with a 6-1 Sunday afternoon win at RNA Showgrounds.

Schult followed the lead set by fellow Bandits starter Chris Smith who established a new ABL record with 15 strikeouts in his Round Nine start earlier this weekend. The Brisbane righty Schult (1-2) struck out his ten over just six innings, scattering seven hits and allowing only one run while walking just one.

By the time Schult surrendered his lone run, his Bandits side was already out in front courtesy of a four-run third inning. Battaglia and Campbell did their damage there, the former cranking a two-run shot immediately following David Sutherland's leadoff walk and the latter following with a solo blast two batters later. Cody Clark added a two-out sacrifice fly to score Brad Dutton, and Brisbane's lead stood at 4-0.

All of that damage came against Aces starter Jon Kennedy (0-1) who lasted just three innings, surrendering four runs on four hits.

After Melbourne's Elliot Biddle brought in Scott Wearne with a two-out single in the top of the fifth, Brisbane got the run back in the bottom of that dig against Aces reliever Sam Gibbons and added an insurance run on a Campbell RBI single in the seventh to make it a 6-1 lead.

Following Schult's departure after six innings, Josh Warner and Rhys Niit combined to spin three perfect innings from the Bandits bullpen, striking out four while not allowing a hit or walk.

Brisbane, back in business sitting one place back of a postseason spot, return the favour of this series, travelling to Melbourne for a Round Ten clash with the Aces. Melbourne return home at 9-21 in the league's basement, one year after an appearance in the ABL Championship Series.